Honors students present research at Alpha Chi national conference

Fri, 2013-07-19 10:07 -- univcomm

July 19, 2013

Two Anderson UniversityHonors Program students recently presented research at the National Convention of Alpha Chi in Nashville, Tenn. Senior Emi Tucker and 2013 graduate Brandy Smith shared their research with peers, professors, and judges during the convention in April.

Any member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society is eligible to present their research at the national convention, but only two students from each university are chosen from the department chair and a board of faculty members. Dr. Blake Janutolo, Dean of the College of Science and Humanities, encourages students to take part in Alpha Chi and in the national convention as a way to put their learning into practice.

[Photo: Emi Tucker (left) and Brandy Smith.]

Emi Tucker, a senior majoring in global studies, was excited when Janutolo told her about the convention. “My brother-in-law attended the National Convention in Baltimore last year, which is how I heard of Alpha Chi in the first place,” said Tucker. “The convention provided a lot of great opportunities for him, so I thought it would be a good idea to apply.”

Tucker and Smith worked hard to get to the national convention. Both chose their own research topics and completed several steps in the selection process. “My written work was presented before a faculty committee at AU, and they chose the students' work that would represent AU at the national convention,” said Smith.

Tucker’s research topic and presentation was on “The Ethical and Sociocultural Dimensions of the Kiribati Dilemma,” and it was featured in the anthropology/sociology category. Tucker had some previous knowledge of this topic, but her understanding was broadened when she started gathering research.

Smith presented research on Golden Rice, a genetically modified food, and its potential impact on eliminating vitamin A deficiency, which affects malnourished people around the world. Smith is both knowledgeable and passionate about the topic of her research. “I believe a great deal of the controversy surrounding this issue stems from a lack of education and a fear of taboo. I hope presenting this topic at the convention helped eradicate some of this ignorance,” said Smith.